''The Ex-Mrs. Hedgefund'' author Jill Kargman at last night's book party at Juicy Couture.
(Jim Davis/Globe Staff)
Names
Her books are a nice fit among the couture
''The Ex-Mrs. Hedgefund'' author Jill Kargman at last night's book party at Juicy Couture.
(Jim Davis/Globe Staff)
May 27, 2009
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New York chick-lit writer Jill Kargman says she'd much rather celebrate the release of her books at boutiques than at bookstores. The author of "Momzillas," whose latest release is "The Ex-Mrs. Hedgefund," chose to have her Boston book party last night at Juicy Couture on Newbury Street. When Kargman throws an event at a popular shop, "People who might not be avid readers are psyched to come," she told us, just before the Juicy soiree. Kargman's book may be a New York tale, but the author considers herself a Boston girl. Her father is from Brookline - as is her husband. "Paging Dr. Freud. . .," she joked, adding that her son owns a Red Sox onesie. Kargman's grandma lives in the residences above the Prudential Center, which made for an easy commute to Juicy Couture. The party was hosted by two of the author's best friends, who live locally - Jeannie Stern, a graphics designer, and Abby Gordon, of the special event company Hopple Popple.
Great Bay restaurant shutting its doors
First Aujourd'hui - now Great Bay. Just a day after the Four Seasons announced that its high-end French restaurant would close at the end of June to be turned into a function space, Hotel Commonwealth announced yesterday that the Michael Schlow and Christopher Myers restaurant Great Bay will be shut down May 30. Hotel Commonwealth partner Terry Guiney said he's still deciding how the Great Bay space will be used. "I'm saddened at the closing of Great Bay, but this clearly was the wisest course of action," said Guiney. "We are enormously grateful to Michael and Christopher, and to the entire staff, for their contributions." Like Aujourd'hui, Great Bay had competition within its own complex. The Hotel Commonwealth also houses Garrett Harker's Eastern Standard and the George Lewis nightlife spot Foundation Lounge. Meyers said in Hotel Commonwealth's statement that it was better to close up shop at Great Bay than redefine the brand in a tough economy. "The principals decided the best course of action was to close Great Bay rather than try to remake it into something other than what it was designed to be - the best seafood restaurant in Boston." Schlow and Myers will have plenty to keep them busy. Their restaurant resumes include Via Matta, Radius, Alta Strada, and Myers+Chang.Brady disputes shots fired at wedding
So much for the evidence. Despite photographs that show a photographer's car with its back window blown out, Tom Brady disputes the claim that his security guards fired shots at paparazzi during his wedding to Gisele Bundchen in Costa Rica last month. "We found two guys on our property, and we told them to get out," Brady tells Sports Illustrated's football guru Peter King in the magazine's new issue. "Our security guys didn't even have guns. There were no shots fired." Brady also says in the article that he likes changing diapers, and that he enjoys life in Boston because there's less paparazzi harassment.Murphys added to Aerosmith bill
When ZZ Top bowed out of its local gig with Aerosmith, guitarist Joe Perry said he was committed to finding the perfect replacement for the double bill at the Williams items on block
Ted Williams fans will be able to bid on the late ballplayer's bats, jackets, photos, paintings, and other knicks and knacks at an auction in West Swanzey, N.H., on May 30. Knotty Pine Auction Service will sell off the items, which are part of the living estate of Dolores Wettach Williams, who was Williams's third wife. This is the second installment of the Williams auction; the first, which included big items such as furniture and art, was in November. Some of the pieces this time around are Dolores's, not Ted's. The auction list includes clothing from the former cover girl's modeling days and short movie career.Rove remains a Grand Old Party animal
The series at the Citi Performing Arts Center is called "The Minds That Move The World," which is an audacious title considering two of the three previous speakers have included comedian Bill Maher and right-wing commentator Ann Coulter. The third and final sitdown in the series takes place tonight , and features Democratic political consultant James Carville and Karl Rove, the former Bush adviser liberals love to hate. We reached Rove in D.C., where he talked liberals, labels, and Lyndon Johnson.Q. It turns out that Bill Maher and Ann Coulter actually like each other. That isn't the case with you and Carville, is it?
A. It is. I know [Carville's wife] Mary [ Matalin] quite well, and James has always been very pleasant to me.
Q. But like each other?
A. We obviously don't see the world in the same way. He's a Democrat and I'm a Republican. We'll have a spirited and fun debate.
Q. If you can get a word in edgewise. Charlie Rose is moderating. He asks the question, answers it, and then lets you talk.
A. I don't know about that. Charlie's a pretty good questioner and fair. The thing about him is he's not interested in a food fight.
Q. Massachusetts is a blue state. Are you intimidated about talking to an audience here?
A. Look, I did a debate on the Upper East Side of New York and in Monterey, California. Come on. I think I can handle it.
Q. Let's talk about your reputation as a political Svengali.
A. It's overstated.
Q. Really? You've been called "Bush's brain." You're not?
A. That comes from people in the media who like easy labels.
Q. Uh oh. This is where the interview goes south.
A. Don't take it personally. You can if you want. I don't. When people use a label like that, it diminishes George Bush, and it points out the silliness of the person saying it.
Q. Even Obama supporters would admit there's a cult of personality thing going on with the guy. Who are your heroes?
A. Well, President Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater, William McKinley, who's horribly misunderstood by history, and, of course, Abraham Lincoln. And I had a teacher in high school, Elden Tolman, who was a liberal Democrat - a Lyndon Johnson Democrat, in fact - who I admired a lot.
Q. Is Rush Limbaugh the standard-bearer of the Republican Party?
A. Trace that back. It was the Obama White House in a cynical effort to distract people's attention from the budget and other issues. I admire their chutzpah, but let's be honest, that was a cynical attempt to distract the American people. Rush is a friend of mine. He's an enormously significant figure with a wide following, and he's of course happy to take Obama on, but he's not a party official. That was a PR stunt by the Obama White House.
Q. You're not in with the Hollywood crowd, are you? What was that kerfuffle with Laurie David all about?
A. I'm writing about it in my book, which will be published by Simon & Schuster. I think you'll enjoy getting the backstory.
Q. I can't wait. Does it bother you, or is it a badge of honor, that Hollywood dislikes you so?
A. Hollywood liberals don't impress me. Hollywood conservatives do. They swim in a sea of conformity. They're swimming at great personal and professional risk in a sea of sharks.
MARK SHANAHAN
Sarah Rodman of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253. 
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